♧ golden brim ♧ [ningguang x traveler]

#7 Before

sorry it's been over a month since the last update 🤧
working on a lonnngggg eimiko book currently (haven't published it yet)

---

You step towards the large door of the floating building. Ningguang lets go of your hand and steps in before you. You immedietely see her tone and expression change as she starts acting like the Tianquan again.

"Excuse my disappearence. Ganyu, Miss. Yun Jin will be here in an hour. Please prepare the stage. Lady Keqing, could you escort Traveler here to my office and hand them the box located in my desks left drawer?" Ningguang is walking around the room at high speed, all eyes are on her and everyone's listening for orders,

"Baishi. Baiwen. Please provide me with a detailed description of all invited guests and their titles. Oh, and if you could find Yelan for me. She refused to come to the ball so I have a job for her. Now get a move on everyone, we start in five hours!"

As soon as she's finished with handing out orders, she enters her room, followed by Baixiao. Keqing suddenly appears in front of you.

"I can't tell you how greatful I am. Please, follow me," She leads you to Ningguang's office. You take another glance around the hall. No other guests have arrived yet, but the ones that were here have all been seated downstairs. You quickly notice Beidou, eyeing you up and down. She seems... mad about something.

Keqing swiftly turns around the edge of Ningguang's desk and opens the drawer on the left, pulling out a flat black box. It's tied with a white ribbon, which has your name attached.

"Lady Ningguang though you should have one also," Keqing smiles at you, "On behalf of her I thank you for all that of what you've done in favor of Liyue's Qixing. It's only a snall gesture, but she insisted."

She places the box on the desk and slides it over to you.

"Open it, open it!" Paimon exclaims. You're not sure when she appeared behind you, but you follow what she says.

Inside you find a dark blue outfit (dress/suit/tuxido/etc.). It's very simular in style to the one Ningguang and Keqing wore in the past. It has many black accents and there are a few jewels around she waist and sleeves. It's wonderful and you couldn't have asked for anything better to wear tonight.

"Now you can match with us," Keqing smiles and walks off.

---

The outfit fits you perfectly. You're not sure quite how Ningguang got your perfect measurements, but you choosr not to question it. You turn around and keep looking at yourself in the mirror.

Suddenly you hear a knock on the door and a brown-haired head appears in thr crack.

"Beidou," you smile at her. She looks at you and sighs, furrowing her brows.

"Ningguang gave this to you, right?" she closes the door behind her.

"Yes, isn't it wonderful?"

She nods.

"Some Inazuma guests just arrived. Including some of your pals so you better go greet them."

Beidou leaves.

"What's up with her?" Paimon asks, very confused. You shrug your shoulders and brush it off. She's most likely just nervous. You change into your regular clothes and place the ball outfit back in the box.

Walking down the stairs you try to spot the new guests but are unable. You do, however, notice a small crowd of people near at one of the tables so you go to check what that's all about.

"... but it didn't sell well. Either way, I think it's our best work," you meet with a familiar pair of violet eyes "Traveler! Knew you'd be here."

Miko is sitting at a table, facing Lisa. From what you've gathered, they're discussing the Guuji's books. There are other people around them, listening or engaging in the conversation, including Xingqiu, Ayato, Thoma and a few of Ningguang's assistants.

"Good to see you again, Traveler," Thoma says, followed by a wave from the head of the Kamisato clan.

"Miko, Thoma, Ayato! Great to see you... three?" Paimon starts her sentance with excitement and ends it in confusion.

"Well it's not like everyone from Inazuma could come. Kokomi and Sara are probably very busy leading their people. And Ayaka most likely didn't come so there would be someone in Ayato's place while he's gone," you answer. In truth, you were also confused to only see them three at first.

"Right on. I wanted my sister to come, but she insisted. So... I brought Thoma instead!" Ayato continues.

"So you all seem to be well aquanted, cutie?" Lisa turns to you.

"Mhm! By the way, who else was invited from Mondstadt?" Paimon answers in your place.

"Me, Lisa and Master Diluc. We also chose to bring Kaeya, but he ran off," Jean explains.

"Diluc and Kaeya, hm? Where are they now?"

Jean shrugs and takes a sip from her drink.

"If I had to make a wild guess, I'd say Kaeya already found some bar. Diluc said he wanted to go for a walk a few hours ago, but didn't say where," Lisa continues and smiles. Thoma replicates her expression.

"Diluc Ragnvindr, Jean Gunnhildr am I right? You belong to two out of four of Mondstadt's most prominent clans, but representetives from the other two haven't been invited. Why is that?" Ayato asks and looks at Jean, but before she gets to answer she's beaten by Thoma.

"Well, the Imunlaukr hasn't got any representatives nowadays. And the Lawrence clan isn't very... supported in Mondstadt. I can understand why they didn't invite their representative. He's not a very welcoming man, nor is his daughter."

You're shocked for a few seconds, before remembering Thoma's from Mondstadt.

"Actually, his daughter, Eula, is now an essential part of the Knights of Favonius. She might be hard to get along with, but she means best," Jean explains.

Thoma keeps talking about Mondstadt, Jean and the knights while you sit next to Ayato.

"They seem to be getting along great." he says.

"Well, it's nice to meet people from the past. What, are you jealoaus?" you ask teasingly.

"Don't be ridiculous. Speaking of jealousy, captain Beidou seems to be in a bad mood today. Know why?"

"I've noticed. I think she's just nervous."

He shakes his head in disagreement. You glance at Beidou who's sitting in the corner, drinking her 4th glass of wine and biting the nail of her thumb.

You decide to walk over to her, leaving everyone else to talk. She's sitting at an empty table so you sit besides her. However, she doesn't lift her eyes so you speak up.

"Hey. You alright?"

The woman looks up at you and stairs into your eyes for a few seconds.

"Are you and Ningguang dating or something?"